Optimize Your WordPress Site to Load Faster

Compared to other platforms, WordPress is pretty fast. However, we can still make it run even faster. A fast loading WordPress site not only gets love from people, but also from Google. Here we look at 4 useful optimization tips that you can implement right now and get your site running faster than ever before.

1. Optimize Your Database

Your MySQL database tables should be cleaned regularly. These tables are sure to have some clutter in time and this has a direct impact on the load times of your WP site. Rather than use plugins to do this, getting a hands-on idea of what is going on with your database is most recommended.

Using the phpMyAdmin panel, choose the “Check All Tables Having Overhead” to get an overview of all the tables that need to be optimized. From the drop down menu, select “optimize table” which when completed, should display a success message. In case of errors in your DB tables, select the “Repair Table” option. Always remember to backup your database before making any major optimization efforts or repairing your database tables.

If you are running WordPress 2.9 and below, which do not support automatic database optimization, add the line below to your wp-config.php file:

define (‘WP_ALLOW_REPAIR’, TRUE);

2. Cache Your Posts

Caching your WordPress posts creates .html files that are served to visitors instead of having to query the database every time, effectively speeding up your website. To do this, you can use popular WP plugins like WP Super Cache, Hyper Cache, W3 Total Cache or the DB Cache. Some plugins like the W3 Total Cache improve your server performance, caching every aspect of your site and reducing download times of site elements.

If you are caching a high traffic website, you might want to consider adding an opcode cache like Alternative PHP Cache (APC) to your server to enhance PHP’s performance. Using a CDN (content delivery network) helps to server your content via a number of servers. This is an expensive option as most CDNs are quite expensive. I would recommend a CDN like CloudFare – it is free but with features that come close to paid services.

3. Compress and Combine Your JS and CSS Files

Compressing and combining JS and CSS files has been shown to improve site loading times. Compressing reduces the overall page size while combining multiple files reduces the number of HTTP requests to the web server required to retrieve the files. There are many JS and CSS compressors out there available for free.

Again, you can do this manually by rewriting the URLs that point to the respective CSS and javascript libraries to point to one destination and then using a small script, concatenate the requested files, compress and send to the browser.

A much easier way would be to use the WP Minify plug-in that combines your various JS can CSS files into one file. And of course compressing images further using a plugin like WP Smush.it does not hurt.

4. Use CSS Sprites

This is a fantastic technique of combining multiple images into a single file with all the information about the graphical elements in it. Sprites can, for example, be used to on a blog’s sidebar where there are 5 buttons each requiring 5 images. These 5 different images can be combined into one file requiring only that single file to be loaded thereby speeding up the site and saving bandwidth.

I recommend a tool like “Sprite Me” to make your sprite coding job easier.

5. Clean Your House

Of course, there are other obvious ways to speed up a WP site like upgrading your WordPress installation, upgrading plugins and deleting unused plugins. These should be on your regular site maintenance list.

Hey WordPress lovers. Every month dozens of incredible free WordPress plugins are released by the community, and we’re here to bring them to you. This seems to be a month of small but useful utilities that only do one or two things, with a few exceptions. So go on. March on down to the list, and get to it! (I'm only a little bit ashamed of that pun.) WP NoteUp ... Notes! Alongside your posts and pages! Use them to remind yourself, or other authors, about things you'd put in a note. That's really all there is to...

WordPress plugins are coming out all of the time, right and left. Every day, they’ve got new ones in the WordPress plugin repository for the curious developer to check out. Over time, your average designer or developer will end up with a list of their favorites. Usually, they’re plugins that solve common problems, are up-to-date and well-maintained, with good support. With that in mind, we’re sharing a list of some of the best plugins out there. Disable Comments ... Disable Comments does......

When I first started out creating websites with WordPress, I was in awe of the depth and variety of plugins available. During those golden days I would willingly install just about anything that looked cool. Shortly thereafter, I was smacked in the head by reality. Stuff started breaking and seriously hurt my good time. It turns out that not every plugin is a great one. And there are times when it seems like the work we do is held together with bubble gum and duct tape. Everything works splendidly until it...

WordPress is undoubtedly one of the most popular tools on the Internet because it makes it so easy to get a functional web site up and running in such a short time. And then there are the plugins. If you want your WordPress site to do something then odds are there is a plugin that you can install to make your site do what you want it to do. But plugins pose a bit of a problem at times. Since they are created by third-party developers you never know what quality control practices are used and what security testing...

WordPress beginners have difficulty customizing their websites past simple text changes, especially if they have no background knowledge of HTML or CSS. WordPress page builder plugins allow just about anyone to build a stylish or professional looking web page, through a user-friendly interface - quickly, and without knowing HTML or CSS. Though it may seem like WordPress page builder plugins have usefulness mainly for the technically unsavvy, they can also make a WordPress developer’s job...

Oftentimes, setting up a WordPress website results in a haphazard scramble to configure enough of the right plugins to make the client happy, and address any specific needs they might have mentioned. But a failure to install certain plugins means the client will come back at you with questions as to why it wasn’t done in the first place. Though you’re probably happy to rectify the problem (and collect a little extra money on the project), going back in to install plugins can distract from more profitable...

In Part 1 of this series we took a look at how you can better secure your WordPress files during, and after, the installation of the software. But once you have the files hardened against different threats, it is time to start looking at some of the different plug-ins available that can help you further protect and secure your WordPress site. WordPress Firewall 2 ... Having worked with a company that deals with web application firewalls, I can tell you from firsthand experience that these are by far one...

There’s a goal behind every website, and a specific chain of events that must occur before each goal is accomplished. Whether you want someone to sign up for your email newsletter, or fill out a contact form, these things don’t happen without the proper triggers. Used strategically, WordPress plugins can assist with the realization of important goals. Here’s how to turn your website into a conversion machine with WordPress Plugins. Essential Grid ... Essential Grid is an all-around grid solution...

About

DeveloperDrive.com is a blog about web development from the makers of the popular web design blog WebdesignerDepot.com
Founded in 2011, we focus on the latest trends, tutorials, opinion articles as well as tips and tricks to empower our readers to become better web developers.